Closure assembly for vacuum sealed containers

Abstract

An air valve apparatus for vacuum sealed containers comprises a cover having a groove at center portion and an aperture at center portion concentrically with respect to the groove. The aperture has projecting a pair of circular walls both from the upper side to receive an air releasing device and from the lower side to receive an anti-dust cover thereon, respectively. The air releasing device has a hollow body and includes a pressing knob at top portion, an integral pin extending downwardly in a distance near a ball which is seating on top of an O-ring which is fitted on top of the aperture to form a hermits seal between the vacuum sealed container and the outside. By pressing the knob downward, the pin will urge the ball to one side that allows air to flow into the container and releases the vacuum status.

I claim: 
     
       1. A closure assembly for releasably sealing a vacuum sealed container comprising: (a) a cover member for covering an opening of said vacuum sealed container, said cover member having a recessed central portion defined by opposed top and bottom surfaces, said central portion having formed therein a through opening extending in an axial direction, an upper wall projection projecting from said top surface, and a lower wall projection projecting from said bottom surface, the portion of said through opening adjacent said top surface being countersunk, said upper and lower wall projections each having opposed inner and outer wall surfaces, said inner wall surface of each said upper and lower wall projections substantially encircling said through opening about said axial direction, said lower wall projection having formed through said inner and outer wall surfaces thereof at least one air passage slot;   (b) an annular air seal member received on said countersunk portion of said through opening;   (c) an air block member having a substantially spherical contour, said air block member being displaceably received on said air seal member within said inner wall surface of said upper wall projection for blocking passage of air through said through opening;   (d) an air passage actuation member coupled to said upper wall projection, said air passage actuation member having means responsive to manual actuation thereof for contacting and reversibly displacing said air block member to enable said passage of air through said through opening; and,   (e) a dust cover member coupled to said lower wall projection for impeding the passage of dust into said vacuum sealed container.   
     
     
       2. A closure assembly for releasably sealing a vacuum sealed container comprising: (a) a cover member for covering an opening of said vacuum sealed container, said cover member having a recessed central portion defined by opposed top and bottom surfaces, said central portion having formed therein a through opening extending in an axial direction, an upper wall projection projecting from said top surface, and a lower wall projection projecting from said bottom surface, the portion of said through opening adjacent said top surface being substantially countersunk, said upper and lower wall projections each having opposed inner and outer wall surfaces, said inner wall surface of each said upper and lower wall projections substantially encircling said through through opening about said axial direction, said lower wall projection having formed through said inner and outer wall surfaces thereof at least one air passage slot;   (b) an annular air seal member received on said countersunk portion of said through opening;   (c) an air block member having a substantially spherical contour, said air block member being displaceably received on said air seal member within said inner wall surface of said upper wall projection for blocking passage of air through said through opening;   (d) an air passage actuation member coupled to said upper wall projection, said air passage actuation member having a cantilevered actuation knob and a pin section coupled thereto, said pin section being reversibly displaceable into engagement with said air block member for reversible displacement thereof responsive to manual actuation of said actuation knob, said reversible displacement of said air block member enabling said passage of air through said through opening;   (e) a dust cover member coupled to said lower wall projection for impeding the passage of dust into said vacuum seal container; and,   (f) an air pump removably coupled to said cover member for removing therethrough air in said vacuum sealed container.